Ben Arfa was on the end of a rough challenge in the 31st minute of last nights game against Kansas which resulted in the Frenchman being taken off on a stretcher.
Initial fears were allayed when news emerged that the injury wasn’t too serious, but Ben Arfa has since been for precautionary x-rays at a local hospital. Whatever was found was troublesome enough for his tour to be cut short and he will now return to Tyneside to be assessed by the medical team at NUFC over the next 48 hours.
To be honest it’s probably not the news that you want to wake up to. I know I was pretty annoyed by it when I first saw what had happened, but injuries are part of the game I guess so I’m just hopeful that they are being careful with Ben Arfa instead of something actually being wrong. Early reports suggested that it was a twisted ankle, which could be the case and would be a good enough reason to send him home from the tour, but it also wouldn’t rule him out of action for a prolonged period.
Ben Arfa had our best chance of the night when he rounded the goalkeeper only to hit the post in the 8th minute. It was described as a moment of brilliance as the French international exchanged passes with Peter Lovenkrands and beat two men before being denied by the angle of the shot.
Another Frenchman, Sylvain Marveaux, also went close just 8 minutes later. Marveaux effortlessly dribbled past a couple of sky blue shirts and nearly skimmed the post with his shot across goal from an acute angle. Two promising bits of play that should excite us for the new season in my opinion.
Jose Enrique was “rested” with Jonas Gutierrez preferred at left-back. By all accounts the Argie had a decent game bombing up and down the left and linked up well with Marveaux. The problem is that I can now see that being our combination for the left side in the (extremely likely in my opinion) event of Jose Enrique heading for pastures new.
Dan Gosling and Cheik Tiote were paired in the middle of the park and came through the match unscathed, although Gosling did spend nigh on 10 minutes off the pitch after suffering a head injury in only the second minute of the match. Demba Ba was another debutant who did ok and came through the match without injury. In fact rather than rattle on I’ll just show you all which team played.
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Dan Gosling. Jonas Gutierrez, Cheik Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux, Peter Lovenkrands, Demba Ba.
Subs: Fraser Forster, Stephen Harper, Alan Smith, Shola Ameobi, Mehdi Abeid, Leon Best, Danny Simpson, James Tavernier.
The final score was 0-0 and all in all it was a good run out, if a little bit too competitive for my liking. It’s a pre-season friendly but some of the challenges were anything but friendly. The game was played at a cracking pace in the first half before fizzling out in the second, which left me wondering if the two managers had a quiet word with each other at half-time?
Of course the big news is going to be the injury to Hatem Ben Arfa. At the moment the sounds are positive and point to everything being a precaution. Hopefully it stays that way aswell. We’ve been without Ben Arfa for so long now and it would be cruel to lose him again for any length of time.
Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious!
Saw highlights against Darlo and then today-toothless sums it up. Striker a must.
People might say its only friendlies but we didnt look like scoring and without Arfa we look so slow and pedestrian without creating anything.
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s ashame the transfer window has closed Stu…oh
witters(Quote)
Stu – Where did you find the highlights mate?
toonsy(Quote)
I’m not so sure that this kind of tour should be revisited again.
Too much traveling as the country is too big and teams far apart. Weather too hot and whilst it’s probably good to train in, it’s not good to play in without getting acclimated.
But also preseason games are ment to warm up the legs and minds, and that’s difficult to do against teams that are in mid season form and with something to prove against bigger fish so to speak.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
LOL Witters.
A striker is a must but very encouraging the creative players are creating. Jonas at LB? Why not. Flair and he can free up a space for Cabaye to come in.
I hope Banny is ok but doesnt sound good.
Raffo(Quote)
Not enough time to adjust to the climate or the difference in time zone. Plus it’s still pre-season. Some people expect too much.
Rule of thumb is approximately 1 day per hour difference in time to adjust.
Shearers Receeding Hairline(Quote)
Agree about the striker being a must. If you took Ba out of the equation we would be left with one of the weakest strike forces in the Premiership AGAIN.
Keth Richardson(Quote)
Well it’s a good job we’re still in for a striker then isn’t it? 😉
Although I do think that judging things based on no more than one match total playing time is a bit silly 😕
toonsy(Quote)
It is a bit Toonsy.
Ba only played for 6 months at W Spam didnt he?
I would love for us to go and get Defoe, or the dream would be to splash out on D Bent I think. He has lost his supply line and lets get a cheeky £20million bid in!!!
Raffo(Quote)
Is Ben Arfa to fragile? you can bet he’ll be getting some rattling tackles early in the Premier league this season just to test out his fragility!!
Maverick180(Quote)
I wouldnt think that MAverick, but he has only just come back and are the USA teams mid season? Its going to be a struggle for them and I am impressed they gave a decent account against a team already in mid season.
Hopefully we get a bit of news from Benny today. It would make sense for him to come home and train here and get medical attention here if he isnt going to play any further part over there.
Raffo(Quote)
What the F*** is pardew on about.
Just read lee Ryder’s Chronicle blog and Pards is saying he virtually knows now what his team will be against the Gonners. Firstly, what is this telling you about any possible new strikers coming in B4 kickoff ? Seccondly, he has’nt seen the reserves play or the lads who missed the trip for various reasons. Just another chance to stick both feet in his fat gob at the same time. Or am I being cynicle again. Just a thought . HWTL.
Porciestreet(Quote)
decent runout for all –
you really cant read too much into friendlies
barton and cabaye to come in remember so the ammo will be there just need another striker!!!
geordiescamp(Quote)
Porcie, maybe a tad cynical 😉
Also not happy that vuckic is apparently on his way back as well after getting ” a knock.”
This tour is starting to really suck
AndrewT(Quote)
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the uncanny likeness between Ben Arfa and Keiron Dyer ?
tommy l(Quote)
Tommy L
Its just U
Indian Magpie(Quote)
I would have thought Ben Arfa would be better off staying there,with all their specialist doctors, then traveling back with the squad.
Tony 1957(Quote)
In hindsight I shouldn’t have stayed up for it….
Oh wait…I didn’t 😀
Moreno(Quote)
http://kctv.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=2002&id=17098
highlights from the kansas game
M(Quote)
They are going to have to be careful with Ben Arfa for a while.
It seems that Pardew is pinning a lot on Ben Arfa being one of our main creative forces so I’m sure he will utilise him carefully through the first few months.
We do need another striker – not because we only had one shot on target in a friendly. That’s not important.
We need a striker because we only have one decent striker and that’s not enough.
We should only worry about the lack of chances against Kansas if it becomes a theme in the next few of matches too.
Pootle(Quote)
Am I not right in thinking that flying a lot with any form of swelling could be a bad thing?
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy, you’re absolutely right. Happened to me once and ended up with a clot after flying back from the states
newc(Quote)
Kieron FKN Dyer Mk2
Rodzilla(Quote)
Tommy L @ 15, hahaha, just seen your comment! 🙂
(well, not actually funny really)
🙁
Rodzilla(Quote)